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Ants have colonized every landmass on Earth, except for Antarctica and a handful of remote or unlivable islands. They can form 15 to 25 percent of terrestrial animal biomass in any given ecosystem. Out of an estimated total of 22,000 species, over 12,500 ant species have been identified. Ants are some of the most widespread pests in the country. Some, like the Pharaoh ant, will infest your food and transmit diseases and pathogens. Most ants are just a nuisance. However, one ant that will cause physical damage to your home is the carpenter ant. About Carpenter Ants Carpenter ants are…

Mice and humans have an interesting relationship. We keep them as pets. Their body and organ structures match humans to a high degree, making these cute little critters perfect for lab experiments. As helpful as domesticated mice are, the average wild mice can be a bit of a pest, invading your home, getting into your home, and being a generally lousy guest. If you have a mouse in the house, what are some of the best ways to catch it? The Standard Trap When you think mousetraps, you’ll probably have the classic spring-loaded mousetrap in mind. These traps have been…

Cockroaches are a common insect. Out of 4,500 species, about 30 are associated with human habitats. Four of those 30 species are well-known household pests. While there’s no doubt that cockroaches are pesky creatures, there are several prevailing myths and misconceptions surrounding the behaviors and lives of these insects. Here are just a few of those myths. 1. Cockroaches only infiltrate homes that are dirty and in need of maintenance. Cockroaches are often associated with dank, dirty, disgusting environments, and while they do enjoy characteristically damp environments, they are not picky about the homes they infiltrate. Cockroaches can enter even…

Southern California is home to Hollywood, theme parks, endless sandy beaches, warm weather all year, and plenty of interesting characters. As lovely and picturesque as Southern California is, it’s not entirely free of its problems. Insects and pests cover all areas of the globe, and sunny Southern California is no exception. Winter Southern California is usually treated to a temperate winter. But still, the drop in temperature encourages some pests to find warmth and shelter in our homes. House mouse: The house mouse is one of the most common species of mice in the world and, as you can imagine…

Rodents are characterized by a pair of constantly growing incisors on their upper and lower jaws. They make up the largest order of mammals—in terms of number of species—at 2,277 known species. Over 40 percent of mammals belong to the rodent order, and they can be found in large numbers on all continents save for Antarctica. With such a huge population, it makes sense that a rodent or two might wander into your home or business and cause a bit of a problem, but how do you know for sure that you have a rodent problem? Droppings Droppings are one…

Pests are a year-round annoyance, often leaving you frustrated and uncomfortable in your own home. Insects cover the entire world and potentially represent over 90 percent of all living creatures on Earth. They can be found in just about any environment and are highly adaptable, which means wherever you go, you’ll probably find a pest or two. Here are a few simple tips to protect your home from pests. Stop unintentionally making your home such an attractive space for pests. Pests are often only looking for an appealing place to set up camp. Most tend to love damp areas that…

There are currently over 40,000 recorded spider species in the world with about 3,400 residing in North America. Spiders are characterized by eight legs and two main body segments. As scary as spiders might look, most are quite harmless and nonaggressive. In fact, many are helpful to ecology and social order by controlling the populations of pesky insects. That said, spiders are still not welcome guests in our homes. Aside from bites, most spiders naturally create webs that can be bothersome, and no homeowners want to deal with an outbreak of spider babies. If you’ve been finding spiders around your…

Mice may seem like cute, fuzzy, harmless little creatures that have been humanized as the lovable characters of many children’s books and cartoons, but when real mice enter your home they pose a major threat and become one of the most troublesome household pests for homeowners. Mice spread disease and can also be quite destructive. They build nests in walls and chew on anything in their way, including electrical wires. They get into human and pet food and leave their feces on every surface they touch, spreading diseases such as hantavirus and bacteria such as salmonella. Sometimes it’s impossible to…

There are over 12,000 identified species of ants worldwide and over 200 species living in Southern California alone, but only a fraction of California’s ant species cause problems for homes in rural and residential areas. Native ant species are beneficial to both humans and the natural world by feeding on other pests such as termites, caterpillars, and fleas. While only about 25% of California’s ants are nonnative species, several of these species are the ones invading our homes. Here’s a list of the most common ants found around Southern California homes and properties, and some solutions for preventing and removing…